Arizona signs Jose Valverde to Minor League deal

Jose Valverde spent his first five MLB seasons in Arizona and notched 98 saves.(AP)

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms on a Minor League deal with reliever Jose Valverde, according to a report by CBSSports.com insider Jon Heyman.

Valverde had a 2.24 ERA and was a perfect 49-for-49 in save opportunities in 2011 and then had a 3.74 ERA and 35 saves on a World Series-bound team in 2012, but he allowed nine earned runs in 2.2 innings over three appearances in the postseason and was removed from the closer’s role.

The righty hit free agency after that season and remained on the market April 2013 before signing a Minor League deal to return to Detroit, but he was released in August after posting a 5.59 ERA and nine saves in 20 appearances.

For his career, Valverde, who turns 36 in March, has a 3.19 ERA and 286 saves in 11 seasons with three MLB teams, a career that includes five years and 98 saves with the Diamondbacks from 2003-07. He gives general manager Kevin Towers another potential arm for the back of Arizona’s bullpen, which also just added closer Addison Reed in a trade with the White Sox on Monday.